LSU battled through a back-and-forth, competitive game to beat Kentucky and win the series 2-1. Tommy White was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring home the eventual winning run in the bottom of the eighth as the Tigers survived the rubber match of the series.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
LSU turned to right hander Christian Little, who was making his fifth start of the year. Little is trying to establish himself as a reliable option for Jay Johnson, and he was effective early, not allowing a hit in his first three innings of work.
The scoring in this one got underway in the second inning, when freshman Jared Jones launched his 10th home run of the season for LSU. The Tigers would tack on another run in the third via a Kentucky throwing error and that made the score 2-0 through three innings.
Christian Little would run into some trouble in the top of the fourth inning. He walked three batters while only recording one out, which led him to be replaced by Gavin Guidry. Guidry allowed one run on a wild pitch, but out of the jam otherwise to preserve a 2-1 lead. However, Kentucky would play small ball off of Guidry in the fifth inning. A walk, bunt single, and safety squeeze bunt combined to get the Wildcats their second run and tie things up at 2.
The back-and-forth nature of this game continued as LSU tied it with a fielder’s choice groundout for a run in the bottom of the fifth. That was answered with a fielder’s choice RBI groundout for the Wildcats as well in the top of the sixth and the score was tied at three afterwards. That did not last long either, as Jared Jones’ second home run of the day followed in the bottom of the sixth and LSU once again led, this time 4-3.
The lead would change hands yet again in the seventh, but this time it was thanks to the first crooked number of the game. Hunter Gilliam hit a two-run double off of Thatcher Hurd, and that was followed with an RBI single from Jase Felker. Fitting the theme of this one, LSU answered with a Jordan Thompson RBI double and a Cade Beloso RBI single to make things 6-6 after seven innings.
LSU was finally able to put up a zero in the top half of the eighth. That set up the offense to push across the eventual winning run as Kentucky’s Evan Byers hit Tommy White with a bases loaded pitch to bring home the go-ahead score. Bryce Collins worked the final two and a third innings to get the save and secure the series for LSU.
BIG NUMBER: 2
LSU was only held scoreless in two individual innings in this contest. While there was never a break-through, the consistent offense allowed them to stay in this one and eventually pull out the win.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jared Jones
The freshman continued his stellar debut season for the Tigers. He hit two home runs and paced the offense as they did just enough to outlast Kentucky.
UP NEXT: LSU will remain at home for a midweek contest as the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns head to Baton Rouge for a 6:00 P.M. first pitch on Tuesday, April 18th.